Sturgis and Three Rivers opened their season against each other, that for bragging rights.

Tonight the two battle with much more at stake. One team will extend their season, the other begins preparing for Spring sports.

The two teams are no strangers to the district finals, one of the teams has been part of the finals since 2009.

Last year, the Trojans ended the Wildcats season 50-29.

Sturgis will be aiming for a three-peat.

In 2011 the Trojans ended Harper Creek’s year with a 54-47 win.

The Wildcats were last in the district championship in 2010, when they lost to Marshall 44-42.

This season, the Trojans opened the year with a 60-36 win, but Trojan coach Keith Kurowski sees a much tougher game ahead.

“I expect a dogfight Friday, it’s not going to be easy,” Kurowski said. “Three Rivers is a dangerous team. They have several guys that could potentially start on our team. They’re a hard-nosed group, an experienced group and they’ve started to play better basketball towards the end of the season.

“I was impressed with that double-digit win over Vicksburg. We’re going to have to guard the perimeter and handle their pressure,” Kurowski added.

Leading the Wildcats is first year coach Mike Carhart, who has a lot of respect for the Trojans, but believes his team can play with Sturgis.

“Sturgis is one of the best inside teams in the area. You can’t guard them with one guy,” Carhart said. “We’re going to have to make them shoot from outside and have to hope they can’t make them tonight, that it’s one of their off nights.

“We’ve really got to take away that inside. We’re going to be working to try and front the post and make them work the ball around the perimeter and work against some pressure. We’re going to have to get up on the ball and make that entry pass more difficult for them.

“I think this is a very dangerous team (the Wildcats) and we have all the tools to walk out of here district champs.”

Sturgis will be led by Chance Stewart and Jalen Cox.

Stewart averaged 18 points per game, while Cox had 13.

Three Rivers leaders are Alex Cottingham and Brady Reeves.

The winner of tonight’s game moves on to the Marshall Regional, where they drew the Benton Harbor/Lakeshore winner at 6 p.m., Tuesday night.